News from home

Posted on Tuesday 22 May 2007 at 05:54 - Post Comment

We had a call on Sunday saying that our 2 month old nephew had been taken to hospital.  He has now been taken to Great Ormond St as there has been no improvement in his condition, which in itself has the staff at Southend General bamboozled.

We are now worrying like crazy, as being so far away we feel so cut off from everything - especially due to the time difference etc.  So, each morning sees us waking up to a phone call on how things are going, whilst we've had all night to dream the worst.  Toni is really struggling as she and Kelly are so close, and not being able to talk and get the news first hand is difficult.  We are just hoping like crazy that the root cause is found, and that he then responds to treatment.  Fingers crossed.

In other news, T went to do a day's relief teaching at a 'Rudolph Steiner' school yesterday.  The school philosophy is to run an 'alternative learning environment' where things aren't so structured as a main stream school and so it was a real eye opener!  Basically the kids can choose to learn, or choose to do something else like draw or play with toys - it's up to them.  If it was me going there when I was a kid, you'd never get me out of the sandpit!  Well, Immediately after that she had arranged to view a local school she's applying to for a job.  The visit went so-so, and then just before leaving the head asked her to do a day's relief and so that's where she's been today!  it's all about getting known it seems, and Toni has done such a good job of getting out there, visiting schools and heads etc, that these little chinks of sunlight are no more than she deserves.  With another day booked for tomorrow, that's 3 days for the week and will keep me in beer and peanuts for a wee while yet.  Cheers wife!

Another bit of good news was the arrival of some official documents from Chris, our emigration agent.  These, matched with T's references, will be submitted to the local School Support branch (the people who pay all supply teachers) and on approval T will become an approved level 9 teacher, and her pay will effectively double - which will be fantastic for us. 

Today, as well as being worried about our nephew, I have managed to 'lose' my wedding ring!  At least I spent the day THINKING I'd lost it, when Toni (who has just popped in here at work to update her CV a bit following the visit to the school yesterday) says she knows where it is.  I have been literally sick with the fear that I really HAD lost it, so will see if it is where T thinks it is later.

Just heard back from the computer doodes who are looking at getting the laptop repaired.  Apparently it is only the keyboard, and a replacement is on it's way.  Will take about 2 weeks (as we've specified a UK spec keyboard so it needs to be imported) so it's a way away from returning to the house, but GREAT news that it can be sorted out.  Just have to find other ways of spending the evenings other than surfing Expats and youtube!  We have even got the Scrabble board out - and T beat me first game!  Believe me, revenge will be mine tonight.